Aberdeen freshman keeps Wolves at bay

Aberdeen freshman keeps Wolves at bay

Aaron Lavinsky | The Daily World Aberdeen starting pitcher Josh Collett tosses the ball to third while chasing Black Hills' Ben Warner away from home base during a steal attempt. Warner was tagged out on the play by Aberdeen's Cole Edwards.

Aberdeen freshman keeps Wolves at bay

Aaron Lavinsky | The Daily World Aberdeen leaves the field after defeating Black Hills 6-1 at Pioneer Park on Friday.

By Justin DamasiewiczThe Daily World

Aberdeen mixed a few big hits and a little bit of small ball with a solid pitching performance by Josh Collett to pick up its first baseball win of the season on Friday.

Collett pitched five scoreless innings to lead the Bobcats to a 6-1 win over Black Hills in an Evergreen 2A Conference baseball game at Pioneer Park’s Ken Waite Field.

Aberdeen managed just one hit in the first two innings, but the Bobcat bats came alive in the bottom of the third.

Collett lined a single to right to lead off the inning. After Gabe Turner moved Collett to second with a sacrifice bunt, Cole Edwards doubled deep into the left-field corner, scoring Collett.

Edwards then scored when Chase Johnson reached on an error, giving Aberdeen a 2-0 lead.

The fourth inning was equally as successful for Aberdeen.

Jordon Logan, Lorenzo Ontiveros and Collett loaded the bases with back-to-back-to-back singles. Turner followed by hitting into a fielder’s choice. Collett was forced at second on the play, but Logan scored from third. Edwards hit a hard grounder up the middle for a single, which plated Ontiveros.

The Bobcats scored their final two runs in the fifth inning. Deon Schlesser led off the inning with a single. After Schlesser stole second base, Tyler Ames walked. Schlesser stole third base as well, then scored on a sacrifice fly deep down the right field line by Erikk Machowek.

Logan’s double deep to straightaway right field by Logan brought Ames home, to increase Aberdeen’s lead to 6-0.

Collett allowed four hits and walked three batters in his first three innings of work. However, the freshman showed impressive poise and worked his way out of each jam without allowing a run. Collett did not allow any hits in his final two innings on the mound.

“Josh Collett was just outstanding,” Aberdeen head coach Shon Schreiber said. “He’s a freshman and it was his first start, and he gave us five innings. I’m really proud of Josh, but everyone played great today. It was really great to see.””

Ben Warner, Black Hills’ starting pitcher, scored Black Hills’ only run of the game in the seventh inning.

Warner reached on an error, advanced to second base when the ball went out of play then advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Austin Parr walked to put runners on first and third, then Parr stole second base. Warner scored from third on the throw to second.

The Bobcats (1-2) will be back in action on Tuesday when they travel to Centralia.

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